The Carpinteria Ad Hoc Harbor Seal Advisory Committee has proposed a three-year closure of a 1,500-foot stretch of Carpinteria State Beach to protect the harbor seals year-round. This follows a vote that highlighted a significant decline in the local seal population, which has dropped from 365 in 2004 to 158 in 2023, driven largely by human and dog activity that disrupts the animals’ critical nursing and resting behaviors.
The proposed closure aims to test whether limiting human access can aid in the recovery of the seal population in Carpinteria. Though seals are classified as 'least concern' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, advocates stress the urgent need for better monitoring and protection as disturbances from human interactions and environmental factors continue to threaten their well-being.
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